A 38-year-old man who confessed to wanting to attack Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is being charged with attempted murder and terrorism. The Democratic official’s home was almost completely destroyed by the fire set by the arsonist. Governor Shapiro, aged 51, is often mentioned in U.S. political circles as a potential candidate for the White House in the 2028 elections. Last summer, he was among those considered by Vice President Kamala Harris for her running mate, though ultimately Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was chosen.
Governor Shapiro was inside the official residence in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s capital, celebrating the Jewish Passover with his family when security personnel woke them up and evacuated them due to the fire. Although the fire was quickly extinguished, it caused significant damage to the building.
The suspect, identified as Conti Balmer, allegedly broke into the governor’s house using homemade Molotov cocktails. According to court documents, Balmer reportedly harbored hatred towards Shapiro and claimed that if he had encountered him, he would have attacked him with a crowbar. He climbed the fence surrounding the property, broke a window, and threw the incendiary devices inside.
Balmer faces eight charges, including attempted murder, arson, and terrorism. Republican Vice President J.D. Vance condemned the ‘truly shocking violence’ and demanded swift justice for the perpetrator. When asked about the incident during a press conference aboard Air Force One, former President Donald Trump responded that he had heard discussions about the event. Later, at a meeting with the President of El Salvador at the White House, Trump commented that such attacks against officials like Shapiro should not be tolerated.
Violence against elected or political figures has become an ongoing issue in the U.S., highlighted by the assassination attempt on Trump himself in Butler, Pennsylvania, during his presidential campaign. The attacker, who shot Trump causing minor injuries to his ear, was killed on-site by security forces. Many experts agree that acts of violence have increased since the 2016 elections without attributing blame directly to Trump. Capitol Police reports indicate that threats against senators and representatives have doubled in recent years. In 2022, the husband of then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was assaulted in their home by a man wielding a hammer, although the intended target was Pelosi herself.